I Worried

Life has aspects we cannot change about and worrying simply comes to nothing as Mary Oliver suggests. There are many things we do not control even when we think we can. It is important to let go and recognize these phenomena as part of the unfolding of life.

Although Mary Oliver includes phenomena outside our control, she includes advice on how to deal with the lack of control. We can go out and sing or act in ways that are creative and life-giving. We can accept the world as it is and not try to correct it. Nature will do what she naturally learns to do. Our role is to be in the world, live in it lovingly, and attempt to do no harm in our living.

We control certain phenomena in the sense we can avoid what is destructive, but there are things that we learn and taught in living naturally.

About ivonprefontaine

I have been an educator for almost 20 years. Prior to that, I worked in private industry for 15 years, then returned to university to earn my education degree. For the past 11 years, I have been a co-creator of learning in a unique, progressive, alternative educational school of choice. Currently, I am engaged in a doctoral program at Gonzaga University in Spokane. A main theme in my learning there has been the roles of systems thinking, complexity theory, and organizational theory, and how they apply to education generally and the learning environment I share with students, parents, and colleagues.

Well, you know I love M.O.
And you summarized what I was expressing to my husband, just last night, quite beautifully:
Our role is to be in the world, live in it lovingly, and attempt to do no harm in our living.
I was saying that the things that ‘make’ me happy are probably misunderstood by many – it’s living in the world, as you describe, (and I would add) – knowing how messed up our species is and what we are collectively acting out here – yet still loving it and loving them and loving just being here. It’s all a miracle.

I love this – this is good, and exactly what we should do!! :D Of course worry is actually another form of fear, and fear does seem to be one of our greatest battles – I wonder sometimes if it is our only battle, and our minds dress it up with other stupid stuff. I shall remember this perfect advice next time I get caught up! ;)